1. Political Ideology Current Issues - Libertyville HS

2. American Political Philosophy Americans tend to talk about Rs and Ds Americans tend to talk about Rs and Ds I prefer to talk about liberals and conservatives – why? I prefer to talk about liberals and conservatives – why? L & C are broader ideas L & C are broader ideas Not all Rs are C; not all Ds are L Not all Rs are C; not all Ds are L R, D label has a lot of historical, psychological baggage R, D label has a lot of historical, psychological baggage

3. Liberal Perspective at 30,000 Feet Preservation of individual liberty Ability to lead life how you choose, regardless of what that means to the individual in question Neutrality in judging the actions of others Equality of all groups before the law Liberals differ in how they balance these three ideas Idealist

4. Conservative View at 30,000 Feet Dependence upon traditions, institutions that have evolved over time (stability, continuity) Dependence upon traditions, institutions that have evolved over time (stability, continuity) Resistance to rapid or dramatic societal change Resistance to rapid or dramatic societal change Suspicion / distrust of government activism (“big government”) Suspicion / distrust of government activism (“big government”) Realists Realists

5. The Political Spectrum Aid to understand political parties, policies Aid to understand political parties, policies Diagonal line Diagonal line horizontal line representing 0-100% individual freedom horizontal line representing 0-100% individual freedom Vertical line representing 0-100% governmental power Vertical line representing 0-100% governmental power Center = “moderate” Center = “moderate”

6. The Political Spectrum According to this model, here is how familiar political labels would be applied According to this model, here is how familiar political labels would be applied Lets look at how traditional left and right ideologies would view particular issues Lets look at how traditional left and right ideologies would view particular issues

7. Assessing Political Ideology Issue 1: Role of national government in domestic affairs Issue 1: Role of national government in domestic affairs Liberals? Liberals? Conservatives? Conservatives? Examples Examples Motorcycle helmet laws Motorcycle helmet laws Gun control Gun control Regulation of business Regulation of business

8. Assessing Political Ideology Issue 2: Balance between employers (business) and employees (unions) Issue 2: Balance between employers (business) and employees (unions) Liberals favor... Liberals favor... Conservatives favor... Conservatives favor... Examples Examples Minimum wage Minimum wage Seniority rules in workplace Seniority rules in workplace

9. Assessing Political Ideology Issue 3: Law and order (rights of victims of crime vs. rights of the accused) Issue 3: Law and order (rights of victims of crime vs. rights of the accused) Liberals favor... Liberals favor... Conservatives favor... Conservatives favor... Examples Examples Rape shield law Rape shield law Mandatory sentencing laws Mandatory sentencing laws

10. Assessing Political Ideology Issue 4: Morals (religious vs. non- religious) Issue 4: Morals (religious vs. non- religious) Liberals favor... Liberals favor... Conservatives favor... Conservatives favor... Example Example Prayer / moment of silence in school Prayer / moment of silence in school

11. Assessing Political Ideology Issue 5: foreign policy (unilateral action vs. multilateral action) Issue 5: foreign policy (unilateral action vs. multilateral action) Liberals favor... Liberals favor... Conservatives favor... Conservatives favor... Examples Examples Intervention in foreign countries of vital American interest Intervention in foreign countries of vital American interest United Nations idea of “collective security” United Nations idea of “collective security”